Otitis media with effusion (OME) and recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM) are both extremely common, with a significant impact on the child’s and parents’ quality of life. Various treatment options have therefore been investigated to prevent their occurrence. A literature search was carried out on Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane database for relevant randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses. We sought to summarise the current evidence on the management of these common conditions.